Political decision-making / Decydowanie polityczne

This course is directed toward furnishing students with a broad based understanding of the essential political structures within which political decision making takes place in modern democracies. The strengthening of these political structures in the 21st century empowers them to override and shape decision and policy making irrespective of the political orientation of elected governments.

There are four key political structures that will be explored in this course:

The “deep state” is referred to as a parallel “state within state” or “shadow” state. Its basic definition is a network of elites in military/intelligence communities, bureaucracy/civil service, judiciary, wielding power outside of elected political channels.

“Legalization of politics” captures the tendency in modern societies for major political questions in societies to be resolved not by elected governments and elections but by courts and unelected judges.

The “new constitutionalism” refers to the web of rules drawn up by states and private businesses giving privileged status and protections to corporations against policy changes by host governments in areas such as health, environment, macroeconomy and so on. Disputes are handled by quasi-judicial state-investor arbitration panels staffed by corporate lawyers. This in effect creates a system of private government which is beyond electoral challenge or shifts in government decision making.

A “state of exception” is a legal device embedded in democratic constitutions which enables executive power to override other branches of government during times of emergency such as war. In the past it was always invoked in a very specific instance for a limited duration. Since the “war on terror” it has become an open ended policy against perpetually redefined “enemies” to transform legal systems and enlarge police powers.

WIEDZA

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Students will understand the important, often hidden transformations of democratic polities which shape their lives in major democracies today

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Students will grasp why notwithstanding the elections of social democratic, “left” or even liberal governments there is very little possibility for elected officials to enact substantive policy change

UMIEJĘTNOŚCI

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Students will be able to explain why so-called populist parties, largely from the political right, continue to make electoral inroads in major democracies even as the tendency has grown for mass publics to become depoliticized

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Students will learn how as emergency situations arise ever more frequently in the face of protest movements, epidemiological pandemics, climate change and economic crises governments expand powers of surveillance, detention and population control under cover of constitutionality and the rule of law

KOMPETENCJE SPOŁECZNE

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Students will be able to think critically about political systems and their democratic credentials

3,0 - To pass the course with 3.0 a student must at minimum complete all the assignments showing a basic level of competency on theoretical and empirical questions and have engaged in minimal participation.

3,5 - To receive 3.5 a student must reach the level of participation and competency of 3.0 but exceed it on at least one of the grading categories.

4,0 - To receive 4.0 the student must demonstrate a superior level grasp of the theoretical frameworks introduced in the course and their political implications. Their presentation and essay must be organized at a high level of competency.

4,5 - To receive 4.5 the student must meet the qualifications for 4.0 but exceed them in two of the grading categories.

5,0 - To receive 5.0 the student must excel in their level of participation both in quantitative terms and qualitatively. Their presentation must be interesting and innovative in terms of both topic and delivery. The final essay must approach publishable quality and demonstrate superior competence in developing the theoretical component and linking it to the empirical discussion of the chosen case.